1466 Melrose Ave Chula Vista, CA 91911
Pacific Pet Hospital in Chula Vista Helps Owners Find Lost Pets
Panic, fear, helplessness. When you first realize your pet is missing it is a combination of all these feelings. One in four pets will go missing or become lost according to the ASPCA. The one major thing you have working for you to be reunited with your pet is identification tag/microchip and social media. The ASPCA says the best chances to find your pet is it has a collar with identification and a cellular number or a microchip which is inexpensive and can be implanted by your veterinarian.
What should I do?
First, contact the local animal shelters within a 60-mile radius and file a lost pet report. Visit the local shelters daily. Many shelters have very good websites and post new pets that have been impounded.
Social Media; you can post on many different sites that are concentrated in your area. You will be surprised at how many people will try to help you. Here is a list of the ones I felt were most helpful;
- www.Nextdoor.com – this a group of your neighbors that are looking to connect with each other but mainly a community watch group. Everyone that has signed up for this will be looking for your pet.
- www.FindingRover.com – if you have a picture of your pet you can post it and, believe it or not, it will use the internet to do facial recognition to help find your pet.
- www.FindingRover.com – if you have a picture of your pet you can post it and, believe it or not, it will use the internet to do facial recognition to help find your pet.
- Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram send the message out fast and can be re-sent to your friends. A picture always helps to add to your post.
- www.thecenterforlostpets.com
- www.fidofinder.com (also helps find lost cats.)
- www.lostdogsofamerica.org
- www.lostpetsusa.net
- www.missingpetpartnership.org
Reuniting with Your Pet
According to the Humane Society, 93% of dogs and 75% of cats reported lost were reunited safely to their homes. Most because of collars with current information, microchips and owners actively looking for them. The good news is that the odds are in your favor of finding your pet with the new groups that will help you.
Good advice from the Veterinarian Community is to get your pet microchipped. It cannot fall off or be unreadable if your pet gets lost. You can call us today at 619-586-5237 to schedule an appointment fo your pet to be microchipped!
Dr. Ken Upton
